(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers at The University of Texas M.D.
Anderson Cancer Center have identified an association between a rare type of
breast cancer and multiple tumors undetected by mammography or ultrasound.
Mucinous carcinoma is a type of invasive breast cancer that has long been
associated with a favorable prognosis. The study is the first to observe a
negative association. The researchers cautions that more, not less, therapy and
additional screening may be needed for a select group of patients.
“Our findings must caution those caring for these women that they may not only
need more radiographic evaluation, such as MRI, but also intraoperative
collaboration with radiology and pathology. These patients also may need
standard radiation treatment, rather than the minimal effective therapy, which
could include no post-surgery treatment at all," George Perkins, M.D., associate
professor in M.D. Anderson Department of Radiation Oncology was quoted as
saying.
In a follow-up study researchers are evaluating a subtype of mucinous breast
cancer thought to be exceedingly aggressive in hopes of establishing specific
screening and treatment guidelines.
SOURCE: CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, December 12, 2009
